Income tax refund message scam in India

How this scam works

An SMS says an income-tax refund is approved and asks you to 'verify' bank details on a link that is not incometax.gov.in.

हिंदी में सारांश

रिफंड केवल incometax.gov.in पर देखें; लिंक पर बैंक डिटेल न डालें।

ठगी होने पर तुरंत 1930 पर कॉल करें या cybercrime.gov.in पर शिकायत दर्ज करें।

Warning signs

• Refund link not on incometax.gov.in
• Asks for card or net-banking details
• Urgent 'claim today' wording

If you're targeted

1. Don't pay, don't share OTPs or PINs, and don't install any app they suggest.
2. If money was sent, call your bank and then 1930 within the first hour — quick reporting gives the best chance of freezing the money.
3. File a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in and keep screenshots and payment details as evidence.

India helplines · भारत हेल्पलाइन

• 1930National cyber fraud helpline (24×7) · साइबर फ्रॉड हेल्पलाइन
• 112Emergency / police · आपातकालीन सहायता
• 14448RBI complaint helpline (bank / UPI) · RBI शिकायत
• 1915National Consumer Helpline · उपभोक्ता हेल्पलाइन
• cybercrime.gov.inFile an online complaint · ऑनलाइन शिकायत
• ChakshuReport fraud calls/SMS · फर्जी कॉल की रिपोर्ट

Official warning